Although mixed martial arts is an individual sport, there is a strong sense of family and camaraderie that athletes develop in the gym.
No fighter wishes to compete against a teammate, but on a show like The Ultimate Fighter, where a six-figure UFC contract is on the line, sometimes it has to happen.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch TUF Nations every Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360 and visit sportsnet.ca for weekly recaps and blogs
Team Canada teammates Chad Laprise and Kajan Johnson — who are also close friends and training partners at the Tristar Gym in Montreal — were forced to go toe-to-toe in the first semifinal bout on TUF Nations.
The results were violent, dramatic and emotional.
THE FIGHT
As expected, the talented strikers were comfortable keeping things on the feet. The two looked to established their range with Laprise relying on a quick jab and forward movement, while Johnson constantly fired back. Johnson landed several big right hands in the first round, but it was Laprise helped by his agility who was the slightly more active, accurate fighter.
The second round began much like the first, however one swift exchange late in the round brought the fight to a chilling halt.
As the two traded combos, Laprise came over the top with a right hand that landed flush on Johnson’s jaw. Johnson fell face first to the mat and Laprise followed up with a few more shots as the referee stepped in to halt the bout.
“There’s some beautiful knockouts and there’s some nasty knockouts and this one was pretty bad,” Team Canada coach Patrick Cote said.
Johnson remained on the mat for several moments before getting to his knees.
“I think my jaw’s broken,” an emotional Johnson said while being treated by cageside physicians.
The win advances Laprise to the welterweight final, which will take place at the live finale April 16 in Quebec City.
“The biggest fight of my life, but it was over one of my great friends and training partners outside of the show,” Laprise said after the fight. “It was bittersweet.”
In addition to his time spent at Tristar, Laprise (7-0) is a member of Team Tompkins in his native London, Ont. Longtime training partner, former UFC title challenger Mark Hominick, says Laprise “will be the best [fighter] Team Tompkins has ever produced.”
Johnson (19-10-1) is one of the most respected MMA veterans in Canada and has fought through a slew of injuries over the years, including an eye injury that nearly ended his career.
“I just didn’t want to go through this again. I didn’t want my face to break again,” a teary-eyed Johnson said while trying not to move his jaw that was broken in three places. “I didn’t want to lose the biggest fight of my life…It’s just another test. I just don’t know why I’m tested so much.”
It was a competitive scrap until the fight-ending blow, but the coaches did feel Laprise was ahead on the scorecards.
“On the feet, Chad was a little bit faster with angles and he had a better jab too,” Cote said. “That was really good timing from Chad and that was really heartbreaking to see what happened after.”
Team Australia coach Kyle Noke added: “Chad was just too good for him. Chad fought his fight.”
This was the first all-Canadian matchup this season.
Outside the Octagon
Semifinal matchups announced
In addition to the the Laprise vs Johnson bout, the other three semifinal fights were unveiled.
The second welterweight semi is Canada’s Olivier Aubin-Mercier facing Richard Walsh. The two middleweight semis will see Canadians Elias Theodorou and Sheldon Westcott take on Tyler Manawaroa and Vik Grujic, respectively.
On the next episode
The first middleweight semifinal fight goes down, as Sportsnet’s TUF Nations blogger Elias Theodorou takes on Team Australia’s Tyler Manawaroa with a spot in the live finale on the line.
